Office Hours [10.3]

[atreideslioness]

The office was still tidy, and a fresh pot of tea was ready and waiting. Ghanima was busy working away on class for Monday, filling the time between parents with reading.

[Door & post open, standard SP disclaimer applies because OMGPARENTWEEKEND EEEEEEEEE. Ghanima's conversation with Tseng is FB, anything about Elena's issues is NFB.]

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[turk_mailman]

Right, then. Tseng felt that he at least had to put up some pretense of being more or less responsible for the actions of his wayward Turk while he was on Fandom Island this weekend.

Best he start while on somewhat familiar terrain, perhaps. It had been a while since he'd visited the office of Reno's favorite teacher. If nothing else, it would be a moment of well-needed sanity. He hoped.

"Good morning, Lady Ghanima."

[atreideslioness]

"Mr. Tseng," she answered, gesturing for him to come in and take a seat. "I was wondering when you would grace my doorway."

"Tea?"

[turk_mailman]

Tseng offered her the slightest of smiles, at that, and nodded, stepping inside to take the offered seat.

"Please." And then, not more than a moment after, "So you already know that Elena is another one of mine?"

[atreideslioness]

"I am not a finishing school for your Turks," she chided playfully, selecting one of the real teas from her store and starting to prepare two cups. "But yes, I do."

"It was easy enough to know she was from a similar world; her reactions to some things in class were clear markers, I've seen her move in Fight Club, and there is a certain aura about those who have stared the end of the world in the face," she continued. "Elena informed me of her affiliation last week, of her own accord."

[turk_mailman]

"I must admit, had I any say in the matter, she'd still be in Edge taking missions," Tseng mused, though not unpleasantly. "Though she seems to have found something here that I can't quite put a finger on. For all that my Turks need her, I'd be loathe to pull her away now."

Even if he hated this island with a passion, yes.

[atreideslioness]

"It's called the sky," she informed him helpfully. "If you go outside and look up, you'll notice it."

"As it stands now, Elena appears to have severe self-confidence issues. Allowing her to take missions, even if she wanted to, would be a mistake."

[turk_mailman]

And at that, Tseng actually exhaled in a sigh. This was certainly not his weekend, was it?

"Self-confidence issues, Lady Ghanima?" That was worrisome, for more reasons than simply one. "Might I ask if you're aware of the source of any of these issues?"

[atreideslioness]

"I am not, but her single-minded focus during the class on atonement would indicate an inability to forgive herself or others for a number of things," Ghanima said, holding out his tea. "Although knowing her background, that could cover any number of things."

[turk_mailman]

Tseng attempted a smile at that. It fell significantly short.

"It could," he agreed, "though if atonement is the subject that has caught her the most, I imagine I can wager a guess as to the cause. Gaia has no shortage of individuals seeking it, as of late."

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima's blue-on-blue eyes studied him for a long moment before setting down her tea. "Elena is not here for the same reasons Reno was," she said gently. "He was looking for atonement in his own way as well, but it's not the same."

"If you wish to tell me your concerns about Elena, or anything else, anything said in my office is held in the strictest confidence. Even the island squirrels are not so foolish as to pry too deeply into my affairs."

[turk_mailman]

"Smart squirrels," Tseng replied, and then he bit back a sigh and gave his head a shake. "To be honest, I'm not certain what it is I'm to do with her. There are... many reasons that I'm thankful that she's here, and at least as many reasons why I resent that she is. The latter category seems to grow more quickly than the former."

[atreideslioness]

"She's at an awkward age for anyone, regardless of who or what they are," Ghanima replied. "I doubt she knows herself why she's here or what she wants, despite what she wants others to think."

"And until she's comfortable in her own skin, there's not much you can do, unfortunately."

[Sorry, attack of the telephoning parents.]

[turk_mailman]

That was very much not what Tseng wanted to hear. Sure, he would accept the fact that he'd just heard it, but it wasn't what he wanted to hear.

Easy solutions. Easy solutions would be nice. Even if they didn't exist for anything.

He nodded, resigned to his fate, and offered Ghanima a strained figment of a smile.

"I imagine I have a slight understanding about exactly how uncomfortable in her own skin she really happens to be," he noted. "Have you noticed her coming in to her own at all since her arrival?"

[atreideslioness]

"She seems to be more comfortable speaking up in class, and I've seen her take the initiative to find partners at the sparring club, but my interactions with her outside of official school hours have been limited," Ghanima pointed out. "You'd be best served speaking with her friends on that front."

[turk_mailman]

Tseng nodded faintly.

"She isn't terribly forthcoming, in matters regarding her friends," he replied. "She did mention... two peers to me, both of whom are from our world as well. One of which, I can't imagine would be terribly thrilled to speak to me, the other..."

He shook his head.

"It would be a bad idea for me to speak to the other, as well."

[atreideslioness]

"And asking Reno would not be helpful in the slightest," she replied, humor in her tone. "Then she wouldn't trust him either."

"Perhaps ask some of her other teachers, or if she's in any clubs, find the faculty adviser. She doesn't socialize much in my class, but someone must have a better idea of her mental state."