office hours | office #6 | monday | september 1

[just_add_starch]

The new term had started and that, of course, meant Fraser was in his office, happily slogging through paperwork in order to get ahead of the game. It was easy to get the brunt of it done earlier so he could be readily available to deal with any issues that might arise and not have to worry about paperwork bogging him down

Comments

[likeababyduck]

Sweets was considering getting a small coffee pot for his office so he didn't have to keep trekking down to the teacher's lounge.

One one of his trips, he paused in Fraser's doorway. "Hello."

[just_add_starch]

"Good day," Fraser said, head coming up from his paperwork to give Sweets a smile. "How are you?"

[likeababyduck]

"Doing well," he said, shifting his coffee cup to his left hand and walking over, right hand extended. "Dr. Lance Sweets. I'm the new guidance counselor."

[just_add_starch]

"A pleasure, Dr. Sweets," Fraser said, standing and reaching across the desk to shake the offered hand. "Constable Benton Fraser, head of school security. Are you settling in well?"

[likeababyduck]

"I think so," Sweets said. "This place is... unusual."

To say the least.

[just_add_starch]

"A common sentiment," he agreed with a nod. "I've been here for over three years now and I still find things unusual. It never really changes."

[likeababyduck]

"Three years?" he repeated. "Would you consider yourself sane?"

[just_add_starch]

Fraser thought about it both because he thought he could be humorous and because he actually had to think about it.

"In some cases, yes," he answered before laughing. "I do, yes. There's quite the lengthy adjustment period but once that passes, things are digested a lot easier."

[likeababyduck]

Sweets gave an awkward laugh. "Things like running into the teenage version of a co-worker?"

[just_add_starch]

"Oh, you've encountered timelines issues?" he guessed.

[likeababyduck]

"Something like that, yeah," he said. "One of the students here will grow up to be one of my co-workers in DC. It's... unsettling."

[just_add_starch]

"It happens," Fraser said, nodding. "I do understand the unsettling feeling though. I myself haven't encountered that but I know many who have. A coworker, though, is better than a future enemy."

[likeababyduck]

Sweets nodded. "I suppose that's true. And she seems very much like the same Angela I know, so she is familiar."

[just_add_starch]

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting her and, considering what I do, I suppose that's a good thing," he laughed. "I'm pleased to hear that the students have a counselor again. I'm hopeful they use your resources."

[likeababyduck]

"That's what Principal Winchester said too," he remarked. "Do you find that there are a lot of troubled young people here?"

Asked the guy who was only twenty-three and rather young looking himself.

[just_add_starch]

"I find that there are a lot of different young people here," he answered. "Troubled isn't what I'd call the majority of them. Displaced and somewhat lonely, yes. This place is quite the leap for anyone, let alone those from different planets, different worlds and different cultures."