xp_logs | Manuel and Nathan, Thursday afternoon (Reply)

On his way out after this afternoon's international relations class, Manuel stops to have a bit of a debate with Nathan. It's largely friendly, until Manuel reveals some of his expectations from this course, Nathan makes him an offer, Manuel takes his pride out and parades it around, and Nathan snaps at him. Oh, this is all going to end so very well - can't you tell?

"All right," Nathan said briskly as his students started to put their books away and rise, some of them obviously planning to beat a more hasty retreat than others. "Good class, guys. If you've got questions on any of the comments I left on your little blurbs from yesterday, you can come see me during my office hours. Especially if you can't actually decipher the comments." A smattering of laughter, and he smiled. "Otherwise, just do the assigned reading and concentrate on preparing for our panel discussion on Monday. I may decide to award a prize for the best definitions of the differences between a terrorist, a guerilla, and a freedom fighter."

Manuel gathered up his things and smirked at Nathan. "Where you stand on the issue, of course." he commented aloud as an answer to Nathan's question. "And how much you're getting paid."

"The first is a valid answer," Nathan said with another, slightly tighter smile. Hastier retreats were being beaten already, he saw, although a couple of the other students stopped to roll their eyes at Manuel before they left. "The second is nonsensical. Oversimplifications aren't going to serve you very well in this course, Manuel."

"This from the NGO terrorist?" Manuel smirked, relishing the prospect of a verbal battle with Nathan. It had been a few weeks, after all, and his skills were probably getting dulled from inactivity.

"Terrorists have causes," Nathan said blandly. "Perhaps I should have you looking up the difference between a terrorist and a mercenary, too?"

"Too easy. Terrorists have causes, mercenaries fight for coin." Manuel replied, sitting back down.

Oh, charming. He wasn't leaving. "Then why would you call me a terrorist?" Nathan inquired.

"You've mentioned before taking on assignments just because they were the right thing to do." replied Manuel. "That makes you a terrorist. And people will submit to all sorts of insults to soverignty to fight "terrorism". It's a very convenient label."

"Given that I was still taking money for them--" Well, in most cases. "--I'd say that made me a mercenary with the luxury of satisfying my principles occasionally." Nathan leaned back in his chair, flipping the pen restlessly between his fingers. "As for the convenience of the label of terrorist, you're right. But you don't think it's ever justified?"

"What, labelling enemies of the State as terrorists? Absolutely! Like I said, people will submit to many insults to combat terrorism. And from the State's perspective, it's practically a no-brainer."

"What about when minority groups being oppressed by the state lash out violently?" Nathan inquired, wondering just why the hell he wasn't sending Manuel on his way. But the kid was showing interest, which was good. Really.

Manuel grinned. "I'm in favor, as a general rule, of using whatever tactics will get the job done. If that means violence, then so be it. You keep the diplomats busy, you try to talk your way out, but there _must_ be a steel fist inside the velvet glove. Otherwise the oppressor has no reason to cease his oppression of the minority."

"We're going to have a good time looking at UN peacekeeping and what it's meant to accomplish," Nathan said wryly. "I can tell already. Strange as it may sound, Manuel, coming from me, it is possible to have a completely diplomatic solution to a problem."

"Of course it is." Manuel agreed. "But there _has_ to be something backing the words of the diplomats."

Nathan spread his hands wide. "This is not a revelation," he pointed out.

"Apparently it is, if you're pushing for negotiation-only solutions." he retorted.

"Negotiation-first solutions," Nathan said. "And I'm not pushing for them - I'm saying that they're possible."

Manuel rolled his eyes by way of a response and quoted Machaivelli. "It is necessary to take such measures that, when they believe no longer, it may be possible to make them believe by force. "

"Machiavelli is not the be all and end all of political theory," Nathan said, raising an eyebrow. "Although I'm not surprised you're a fan. I ought to give you a reading list and let you broaden your horizons a bit."

"Perhaps not, but he is a truly excellent starting point." Manuel said. "More reading - probably not a good idea right now. I have all I can do to keep up in here." he admitted - and then quoted from Machaivelli again. "Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then he will always find them faithful."

"This is international relations," Nathan warned, "and Machiavelli's thoughts on how Italian city-states should interact five hundred years ago aren't necessarily applicable to the modern international system."

"Aren't they?" Manuel countered with a smile. "I find them extremely relevant, and judging by the readings, so do many others. Internal policy influences external policy, does it not?"

"It does. And he is useful - in moderation. But using him as the equivalent of a Bible isn't going to do anything but get you in trouble. Trust me," Nathan said wryly. "I had a couple of fellow students back when I did my master's degree that found that out."

Manuel quirked an eyebrow. "I prefer to think that we have advantages and resources that your human classmates do not." he said. "And I grew up steeped in international relations - my father did business with many on both sides of the law, and dealt extensively with companies and governments."

"What advantages and resources would those be?" Nathan asked, matching the raised-eyebrow. "As for your father... business dealings have a significant influence on international relations, but they're far from the only factor."

"Mutantcy." he said with a smirk. "Some powers - like mine and yours - lend themselves beautifully to the comprehension of the behavior of groups." He then looked at Nathan curiously. "I am hard-pressed to think of another. Politics is business by another set of rules."

"Ethnicity, religion, ideology, militarism..." Nathan rattled off the list, then gave Manuel a deadpan look. "And wouldn't that mean we have an advantage on Machiavelli, as well?"

"Theoretically." Manuel said graciously. "But Niccolo was a genius in this area - far wiser than you or I. He has much he can teach. And some of those things you mentioned - religion, ideology, militarism - are merely the outgrowths of politics. Ethnicity, now that's a different game altogether. Another chair at the table, so to speak."

"Some would argue that politics is an outgrowth of religion," Nathan quipped. "You may have a point, in some cases, about the other two. Although ideology can as easily be an outgrowth of religion - are you seeing my point about oversimplifications, now?"

"No." Manuel retorted. "I disagree with your positions. Which probably means that, you being who you are and feeling the way you do, I'll get extra homework for my pains."

"If I wasn't in a reasonably good mood," Nathan said as lightly as he could, "I'd take exception to that. What precisely have I ever done to make you think I'd treat you unfairly, Manuel? Although before you answer," he said, raising a hand, "I should say that I am going to give you the opportunity to do something 'extra'. I'll help you revise rough drafts of assignments into readable English, if you're interested. You have reasonably complex and interesting ideas, but that doesn't do you any good if you can't get them across coherently."

Manuel bit back what he was going to say. "Uncommonly kind of you." he said, staring at Nathan to try to see what motivated such an offer. "I may or may not take you up on it."

"It'll be a question of how well you want to do in this course," Nathan said seriously. "I can tell already you're not going to have any trouble with the panel discussions and so forth, but when I made up the marking scheme I had to go with having a significant written portion so that this could be recognized as an official credit."

Manuel shrugged. "It has become something of a point of pride with me - to see if I can take what you're dishing out. I have no concern for the material, but I will be handing in my assignments in English. Feel free to fail me if they are inadequately translated."

No grinding your teeth, Dayspring. "Which is why I'm offering you technical assistance," Nathan said levelly. Because failing you is precisely what you, or part of you wants, and I'm not doing it.

"And you're offering this to solely me, I take it? Unfair advantage. I will have to graciously decline. I do not want to be coddled any longer. I have had my fill of it over the last few months." he said nastily.

"I would offer it to anyone who had your difficulties with writing," Nathan snapped, before he wrestled himself back under control. "If you doubt that, feel free to scan me. One of my responsibilities is to make sure that anyone who's capable of benefiting from the material isn't held back by something that has essentially nothing to do with the material."

Manuel stood back up, gathering up his books and notes. "I have told you this before, and I will tell you it again. The final grade _does not matter_ to me. All I want is the knowledge that you're teaching. Everything else is bullshit. And if I fall, I do so on my own merits, with nobody holding my hand." he said, full of terrible de la Rocha pride.

"You're a coward," Nathan said flatly. "There's one area in which you haven't improved one bit."

Manuel clenched his hands into fists, and then forced himself to relax them. "I refuse to allow you to bait me any longer. Good day." he said, heading for the door - and half-expecting it to be slammed into his face for his troubles.

"If you're not going to make an effort in the class," Nathan said, just as coolly, "perhaps we should rethink your enrollment."

"I am making the same amount of effort - if not more! - than anyone else in this class. The others don't have to work as hard on their writings." Manuel said before departing.

#You know, I didn't know how to read until I was fifteen years old?# Nathan projected at Manuel as he left the classroom.