Office Hours, Saturday Afternoon

[bigdamndean]

Zoe had figured out that something weird was going on, but it didn't seem bad, so she was continuing about her day as usual for the time being. That meant making sure her files had everything from the first week of school, and peeking at the applications she'd gotten so far for the Student Council. It was already shaping up to be another strange

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[spyprincipal]

Bristow entered less as if he owned the place and more as if the place owed him a blood debt that he was calling in.

In other words, he walked in normally.

[bigdamndean]

There weren't a lot of things that could shock Zoe these days, but the sight of Bristow was apparently on the list. "Well now, aren't you a surprise?" she said.

[spyprincipal]

Bristow's eyebrow raised slightly. "The opportunity arose to make a personal inspection of my school. I took it. What, exactly, is surprising about that?"

[bigdamndean]

"Well, it's not exactly your school anymore. Unless you were hiding out during the last few invasions and I never noticed," Zoe said. "I think you'll find the place is still in one piece."

[spyprincipal]

"It will always be my school." As if to demonstrate, Bristow performed a curious motion on the door jamb and produced a soup spoon which he tucked inside his jacket. Whether the spoon had always been there or he was just performing gauche sleight-of-hand is entirely dependent on how much the school's been rebuilt from the ground up since he was last there up for debate.

[bigdamndean]

"All right, that was admittedly impressive," Zoe said, making a mental note of places in the office to poke at later. "I think the school board might argue with your claim, but they're still a pain in the ass so their opinion is questionable."

[spyprincipal]

"I think we can both agree that the school board is the least important part of this school." Bristow glanced around. "I will admit, I did not expect to return to find things in relatively stable condition. I can only assume that you're motivating the students properly through a mixture of healthy fear and positive encouragement."

[bigdamndean]

"Positive encouragement, yes. Healthy fear - I suppose some of the students are afraid of me, but they tend to be the ones afraid of all authority figures," Zoe said. "Considering how many students come from places where they have to be afraid all the time, I like to offer them a safe place instead."

[spyprincipal]

Any good will that Bristow was showing disappeared as his mouth took on a painful tightness. "If you think that you can offer a safe haven in Fandom, then you are deeply mistaken. While that may be unfortunate for anyone else, it is gross incompetence for someone in your position. This island is full of dangers. Your job, which you appear to neglect, is to prepare these children for the difficult lives they will lead."

[bigdamndean]

"Yes, the island is full of dangers, and the students are clearly learning to face them, as evidenced by the fact that things are, as you put it, in relatively stable condition," Zoe said calmly. "What they are safe from here is more emotional. You're right that a lot of them have to lead difficult lives, but that doesn't mean their lives here have to be difficult so they'll come out hardened. That won't do anyone any good."

[spyprincipal]

"Clearly, you have a different interpretation of the position. I may disagree, but I have not been here myself. This appears to be a different Fandom than the one I left and your take may be more appropriate for it. Never let it be said that I am unadaptable." There wasn't an apology in there. There wasn't any contrition. Bristow had no regrets that he indicated out loud.

[bigdamndean]

"Adapting has been a huge part of the job," Zoe said, relaxing a little. "Thankfully, the students who come here these days are less dangerous than some of the ones who have come before. My life hasn't been threatened by anything but outside forces in years. I've become more relaxed because the students have become more relaxed. But we are always vigilant against those outside forces. That's the key."

[spyprincipal]

"I am sure you've been briefed on the chaos that was part and parcel with the early days of the school. If Fandom has been without that kind of disorganized dangerous chaos, then you have been very fortunate indeed. At my best, I could only hope to keep the school running from day-to-day. If you've actually managed to keep the deadlier influences at bay, if Fandom is truly safer, then..." Bristow was not a man who easily admitted this. "Then the school is in better hands than it was."

[bigdamndean]

That got a soft smile out of Zoe. "I'm not doing it alone. We have strong teachers here, some of whom graduated, lived their difficult lives, and have come back to deal with the next generation. But we would be nothing without the school's foundation, and I'm grateful that the chaos was calmed."

[spyprincipal]

"School administration was never my strong suit, in any case. I was only here out of necessity. My particular skills are best utilized in other endeavors. Speaking of which..." Bristow reached into his suit jacket and produced a well-used, discolored spoon. Impaled on the spoon was a wriggling gremlin.

"On my way to your office, I was attacked by this gremlin. It shambled up and attempted to bite me. I recognized the movement from the zombie invasion of '05. You may have a problem on your hands. But, from what I've seen, it's nothing you can't handle."

[bigdamndean]

Zoe let out a soft litany of swear words, and gave Bristow an apologetic look. "Thank you for the heads up. I'll be sure everyone keeps an eye out for trouble," she said. "It really is good to see you, for what that's worth."