Anonymous Mon 02 Sep 2024 05:07:28 No.68799822 Report

>>68798781
Trish meets Iadakan.

Anonymous Mon 02 Sep 2024 05:57:16 No.68800881 Report

>>68799822

>I hear the door creak open, my current temp-counseling position allowing me very little down time. I look up from the sheet I'd been filling out for inventory requests. A purple Triceratops girl lifelessly shuffles in, accompanied by the principal, Mr. Spears. I sit up, creaking my back a bit as I do.
>"Iadakan, this is Trish. She's had a rough few days and needs someone to speak to. I'll leave her in your hands." I nod at him as she's led into my chair. I tuck my pen in and fold a leg over, hands interlocked holding my higher knee.
>She's in a rough shape. She's looking at the ground, eyes puffed and red. I wonder if this is related to that projector incident I'd caught wind of.
>I pull the old tried-and-true out. "You ever wonder why schools keep counselors on their payroll?" A great success, as always. She looks up at me, dumbfounded.
>I smile at her and answer, cheekily. "State says so." I lean back a bit as I've managed to yank her out of despair and right into confusion. Step two.
>"I can't make you talk to me but I'm here to listen if you want to."
>I look over her carefully as she weighs the decision in her head. I've broken the ice best I can but now she has to help herself. I watch as her eyes slowly find their way back down.
>Well we can always try again another time. I start to reach forward to keep working on my forms when I hear her voice, strained and tired.
>"All I do is hurt others."
>Oh dear that's not good. I look at her as she continues. "I'm a horrible friend and deserve to be alone."
>My turn to pull now that she's given some leeway. "You did something to alienate your friends?" She nods, sniffling.
>"Would you like to tell me about it?"
>A very long wait before she speaks. I take my gaze off her to alleviate pressure if need be, walking around the room and even offering her a cup of coffee from the machine sitting on a small protrusion on the opposite wall.
>She does find the strength to speak, eventually.
cont.

Anonymous Mon 02 Sep 2024 06:06:59 No.68801049 Report

Quoted By: >>68801118

>>68800881
>"I tried to run my best friends boyfriend off because I was worried."
>"Worried?" I pick at her words.
>"...scared." She confirms.
>"Scared of everyone changing, leaving." I just slowly nod as the sniffling kicks up in severity.
>I start to lead the conversation but she's not done. Her voice is rougher and angrier, now.
>"I pushed them into something that I thought would help us. A way to fight against the world. I...I don't know if I made the right choice." She clams up heavily. I have to merely watch as she struggles. I find some wisdom in me, pulling from a history of teaching.
>My story begins. "You know for a long time when I first started teaching art I kept having nightmares about students I'd encouraged to follow their dream. They'd fail and blame me. Or hate me for not talking sense into them. All worries I'd sent someone down the wrong path when they'd trusted me." I glance to see her forming a question.
>"You're not a counselor?" I shake no and speak.
>"Not really. I'm filling in a gap at the moment." I notice a huge relaxation start across her shoulders. I keep the story flowing.
>"It was torture. Made me not want to even speak up, say a word. It took until I met an alumni before it broke me of that. You wanna know what I learned?" She nods at me.
>"People are their own person. You can guide, can insist or even try and force but at the end of the day you don't make their choices. They do. It took a load off my shoulders. I can push students to where I think they should fit but I'm no more responsible for their life than they are."
>It's a winner. She leans back in the chair letting my words strike her.
>I decide nows the time to sit back fully, lower back starting to flare again. Time to tackle problem two.
>"So you hurt your friends." She flinches at my blunt assessment.
>I ask. "Have you apologized?" She quickly answers.
>"Of course." From her body language she's telling me it's not resolved yet.
cont, one more.

Anonymous Mon 02 Sep 2024 06:10:59 No.68801118 Report

Quoted By: >>68801348

>>68801049
>I find my landing and tie the two together.
>"Give them some space. You can't force an apology." It strikes true as she flinches harder.
>My lecture continues. "The best you can do is promise to be better and see if they forgive you. I can't promise they will, but pestering them about it won't do anything but make the sour feelings worse."
>A sigh of acceptance, defeat. She slips deeper into the chair.
>I let her stew in the thoughts a while. She finds a bit of life in her and sits up, speaking.
>"Thanks, uh...?"
>"Iadakan." She nods at that and starts to stand, legs a bit weak. I watch her make it to the door, turning to speak.
>"Can I...come back here?" I smile widely.
>"Anytime." She nods and pushes out of my little office. I sure hope she gets her feet under her. Now, back to this form.

Fin. Off now, maybe morning reqs we'll see. Was fun /snoot/