Office hours [all day]

[sith_happened]

It was Anakin's eighth year on this side of the desk, and it was still a little odd, but at least this time he was pretty sure he wasn't going to have random relatives showing up this time, and that was always a bonus. He sat behind his desk, calmly drinking caf, and waited for visitors.

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

And lo, did visitors appear.

"This is Dean Skywalker's office," Kathy said, stopping in front of his door. "He also teaches several classes. I'm currently taking his class on meditation." That was said loudly enough to carry and hopefully Dean Skywalker would notice the absence of anything to do with ass-kicking when she explained his class?

"Excuse me, sir?" she asked, with a small bob of her head. "Are you busy?"

[the_family_li]

"Why would he be busy?" Mr. Li asked. "Isn't his job to talk to us today? What could possibly be more important than that?"

"Maybe he has other students?" Sarah pointed out. Logically. Her father's glare had her ducking behind her phone again.

"Harrumph." Which meant that Mr. Li had no comeback for that, but wasn't about to back down from his point anyway.

[sith_happened]

"Come in," Anakin called, waving them in and trying to look serene.

[spin_kick_snap]

Hopefully he was doing better than Kathy was, when she led her family in to meet him. "Dean Skywalker? I would like to introduce you to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Li? And, uhh, that's my sister, Sarah."

[sith_happened]

Anakin inclined his head. "It's very nice to meet you all."

[the_family_li]

Sarah looked as excited to be dragged around a school meeting her sister's teachers as one would expect. Mr. Li looked bored and faintly superior, while Mrs. Li had the frenetic energy of a small bird, constantly moving about, checking her hair, the fall of her clothing, her children, her husband, etc.

"The school Dean teaches classes?" she asked. "I assume higher-placement honors courses for the best students?"

[sith_happened]

"All of our students are exceptional," Anakin replied, "or else they wouldn't be here. A class on meditation isn't to everyone's tastes, but I think that it's helpful for students who are extremely driven: it helps them to learn to take time for themselves."

[the_family_li]

"That's our Katherine, all right," Mrs. Li said, giving Anakin a bright smile. "She's very driven. Gets it from me, of course."

[sith_happened]

"Of course," Anakin agreed. "My wife's the driving personality in our children, too."

Unless they were sulking.

[the_family_li]

Mrs. Li's smile dimmed, but only for a moment. "Children? How darling! Aren't they the most precious things? How old are yours? It seems impossible that Katherine's almost seventeen and Sarah, our youngest, is already thirteen. But look at them? Aren't they lovely?"

With the way they were both trying to hide?

"Honestly, now," Mr. Li harrumphed. "We're here to talk about how Katherine is doing in class, not about the Dean's personal life. I'm sure he has better things to do than gossip."

[sith_happened]

He really didn't, but it wouldn't do to say so.

"Kathy has been an excellent addition to our class," Anakin said.

[spin_kick_snap]

And Kathy very much appreciated him not saying so. She's already gotten to watch her dad get his flirt on with Ms. Adler, she didn't need to watch her mom to the same with the Dean.

"I've taken several classes with Dean Skywalker," she said. "My first summer here, he taught a workshop that highlighted interesting cultural facts of different countries around the world."

Which was one way of explaining 'Try Not To Die', sure.

[the_family_li]

"Oh? How marvelous!" Mrs. Li was using her chirpy, real estate agent voice, the one where she sounded friendly and enthusiastic about everything. "Did you focus on Korea at all? You could have have Katherine teach the class!"

Which Kathy would have loved to do. Really. That look of horror at the very idea was for the missed opportunity!

"Could you explain more about your meditation class?" Mr. Li asked, ignoring his wife's question. "I'm not sure I see how it can be all that academic."

[sith_happened]

"I teach inner focus and clarity," Anakin said. "When you can make your brain shut off extraneous thoughts, you can be much more productive with the task you have before you. This makes it much easier to study for exams or write essays."

Or kick someone's ass. Cough.

[the_family_li]

"Right, but how are you graded?" Mr. Li insisted. "How do you know the students aren't just...dozing off in class?"

Grades were important! How else were you supposed to judge how well your child was doing in life?

[sith_happened]

"The snoring tends to give it away," Anakin said, "or the restless movement, or tipping over...I also give examinations on the history of various meditation traditions and expect the students to know different techniques in order to find one that works for them."

The exams were probably news to Kathy.

"I'm not a teacher to be trifled with. The students learn that quickly."