Event Private Finished Another clever word

ReD · Sep 22, 2017

Ven didn't hesitate when he reached the door to his history teacher's office. While he usually wore the uniform, in Ven's off time he enjoyed clothing that seemed to suggest he was always on his way to a metal concert. Today, Ven was somewhere in between; black pants, a black dress shirt, and a red tie seemed to suggest he was trying to look professional. Ven saw no reason to wear the uniform when he wasn't in class, though.

In his left hand, he held the cup of coffee he was almost never without.

He rapped on the door with his right hand and waited, beaming, excited for this opportunity to learn.

Der Lampman · Sep 22, 2017

It was rare enough that the young cared enough of history to bother, despite the effort Ike put into making it engaging. And rarer still was it that anyone cared enough to put in hours outside of those required.

Ikaktar though he may be, Ike was honest and earnest about his desire to teach. So earnest in fact that today was supposed to be an off day as required of him, but there was a student, and that meant that there was to be teaching.

He'd prepared plenty of material, all of it stowed away neatly in his desk. Ukocanupkor sat atop a stack of texts, a glorified and powerful paperweight. His clothes, as trim as always - smart casual, white dress shirt, tie, the kind that professors in fiction always seemed to have, with the only departure from tradition being a brooch with intricate geometric patterns - signified his intent to be as proper as possible. If someone sought out his aid, then he would provide only the best.

A rapping on his door got his attention, and from the air manifested ikaktar cirronup. The fox opened the door with clever use of its paws, and then disappeared. Ike himself turned to face his guest and gave a pleasant smile. "Come in, come in. Mister Ven, was it?"

ReD · Sep 22, 2017

"Yes professor," Ven beamed, stepping into the office. History was his favorite class. He hadn't put much stock into college before having the professor's course. Now, Ven was thinking that might be something he would do. If he could ever get his powers under control, being a history teacher was something he could do back in the "real world" as it were.

"Thank you so much for seeing me," Ven said, taking a quick sip of his coffee. The bags underneath his eyes seemed even darker today, but his tiredness did nothing to diminish his enthusiasm.

"I'm running for the student council, and I was wondering if I could get some advice from you. You know, like historical stuff," Ven said. He took one more sip of his coffee. Ven was honestly hoping for any advice. He didn't have many friends.

Der Lampman · Sep 22, 2017

Ike's brow furrowed momentarily. He'd not expected these queries, but they were queries nonetheless. Briefly, he ruffled through his pile of texts, digging out a few excerpts of certain books. "Hmmm. Historically, elections have hinged on the popular train of thought, either in favor of someone who rode it, or someone who became the brick thrown at the window of the status quo," he said.

Carefully, he sorted the papers that he'd picked out. Treatises and analyses of unexpected and unsavory leaders made up the bulk of it, along with his own notes on certain thought leaders' profiles, admittedly sparse compared to the rest. "There are trends that all these big names in the past follow, some thoughts and traits that tend to show up again and again. Those that become shrouded in heroic legend, and those that become reviled... all share some characteristics."

"But I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? We haven't yet discussed your situation. You say you are running for the council, which is all well and good, but in what capacity do you need my advice? Advice for how to run a campaign is different from advice on good governance, institutional technicalities, and personal confidence troubles."

Ike procured a mug of his own coffee and set it on the table to cool for a bit. There were many things to consider in any political scenario, best discussed over a good brew. He smiled, and said simply, "Feel free to ask away, though I may need context for some questions."

ReD · Sep 22, 2017

"Okay, well," Ven hesitated for the first time.

The professor had a good point. He was coming in with vague questions, and he was going to need specific answers.

"Well, I guess, to use your words, I'm probably going to be more of the brick in the window approach," Ven said. "I'm still new here and I don't really have many friends. I'm running with a campaign mate named Nia, and she thinks it will work out okay, since no one has any preconceived notions of me, so I can be whatever i need to be."

Ven paused for a moment, trying to wrestle his train of thought under control. He decided to back up a little bit, provide the context for his campaign.

"So what I want to do is improve the resources for newer students. All things considered, I'm doing really okay here. I like it here. But I hear a lot about Reality Dissonance and other mental health issues, particularity with new students," Ven started. He pulled a small flip notebook out of his pocket.

'And one of the things i learned is how social support and forming relationships is a big preventive factor in both physical and mental health. I wasn't here when it happened, but I heard a lot about the march virus....so I guess what I'm getting at is that I want to make this my focus. It's what I've been going on. But...I don't know if I'm going in the right direction."

Ven bit his lip for a moment and looked down at the ground, and then he looked back up.

"Truthfully, sir, I'd take advice on any of those issues if you'd be willing to share, in any order. I have a whole notebook," he said.

He looked up at Ike with huge eyes.

if Ven was a puppy, his tail would have been wagging, begging at the table for a treat.

Der Lampman · Sep 23, 2017

"A brick in the window only gets as far as its momentum can carry it," Ike said, taking a drink. Ven was one of those good kids, the ones who had good intentions and visions. Still, the road to hell and its pavement was common parlance for a reason.

Ven had a lot on his plate. That was good. It was well for the young to be so ambitious, that they would have something to fly toward. A little more focus wouldn't hurt him though.

"That's a lot to work with," Ike nodded. However, he wasn't particularly confident in Ven's chances. But he would help regardless.

Ike cleared out his desk, leaving ukocanupkor atop it. The papers were pushed neatly to the side. With a sip, Ike began his attempt to focus Ven. "You have all these ideas but currently no concrete direction or plan. It's noble, but unless you think about that first, you won't get anywhere."

"What do you think lets a politician, a military man, a pioneer, or a leader of any sort succeed?"

ReD · Sep 23, 2017

Ven wrote down bricks, window, need more momentum.

He was pretty sure the professor wasn't suggesting he brick someone's window. Ven wasn't an idiot, and he could recognize a metaphor when it came his way. However, Ven's grandmother also used to say, 'you can't have chicken soup without killing a few chickens' and this sort of reminded him of that. So, maybe, he would have to consider bricking someone's window after all.

The professor had a point, though. Ven shifted his weight to his other foot. He really didn't have a concrete plan. He knew what he wanted, and had a vague idea of how to get there, but no map or idea of the landscape. Ven considered this.

The professor's next question through Ven's train of thought off.

"Being known by other people?" Ven ventured. It probably wasn't the right answer, but it was the first one that came to mind. He cocked his head to the side and waited to be corrected.

Der Lampman · Sep 23, 2017

The answer wasn't too far off what Ike had in mind. It made him smile softly. "Not quite, but it's not wrong either."

"There are two common things that drive people to being memorable," Ike began. "One is charisma - having people know you, as you say - and the other is intellect. Many historical figures rose to power on the backs of their supporters, and some others rose to prominence with unprecedented achievements driven by their brand new schools of thought."

Ike cleared his throat and brought his little speech closer to the topic at hand. "In terms of this bid for a position that you're running for, you have two approaches... sway people to your cause with your personality, or treat it as a game of numbers, where each move you make is calculated only to ensure their vote, not to have them rally around you and your cause. Of course, it's not that simple, with all the nuances involved in any game of politic, but what ever is, really?"

Ven struck Ike as someone who would have a wildly unpredictable leaning on either side of the spectrum. His presence came across clumsy, the sort that drew attention in a not entirely negative way. At the same time, his diligence could lead to his being a steady, consistent plodder and plotter.

Where would he choose to lean though?

ReD · Sep 23, 2017

So, Ven wasn't too far off, but he wasn't entirely right either, which was kind of the story of his life. But he took notes regardless, listening with interest with what the professor said.

What kind of path was Ven going to choose?

He honestly had no idea. Ven tended to flit somewhere in the middle of things. He was an okay student at most things, really only excelling at history and geography. He was smart enough to pass, but not smart enough to fall into the realm of the good kids, and though he sometimes got into minor troubles, he wasn't delinquent enough to be a bad kid. His time at the academy was not very long, either, and Ven did not really have a good number of friends or experience to draw his relationship from.

He wanted to be more than just a person someone liked, but he also wanted to be more than just a plan. Ven said, "Professor, I'm going to ask if you could be honest with me....which route do you think I should take?"

Ven shrugged.

"I might not have a chance at this, but the least I can do is try, and if I try, I want to do my best," Ven said.

Der Lampman · Sep 25, 2017

"In all honesty, I'd say don't choose yet," Ike flatly stated. Ven currently exhibited every hint of someone likely to rush and choose wrong. That was the last thing he or anyone should do, and something that people were prone to do anyway.

There was more nuance to these two approaches than Ven seemed to grasp, if the questioning was any indication. There existed infinite takes on the calculated approach and emotional appeal, and a similarly infinite possible combinations of the two. Of course, Ike could simply say that straight, but he didn't quite like spoonfeeding.

Ike dug through his papers again, this time through the class records, looking for the Nia he mentioned. "You have a partner, yes? A decision like this should be made with your partner's input, seeing how you are, well, partners."

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Event Private Finished Another clever word

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