Here goes nothing...

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina sighed as she made her way to the counselor's office. She had no idea what to expect, but she was positive she wasn’t going to like it. Her files were filled with the lies of her high school teacher that claimed she was needlessly violent for punching him in the gut, the fact that she’d killed a man, and no doubt had some of the fights recorded from her days spent in a high school filled with the cast-offs from every other country that couldn’t bother to clean up their own shit. She’d never instigated a fight in her life, but her files would make it seem like she just went looking for trouble.


    Whoever she was going to meet would probably assume Selina was a “problem child,” before she even got a word in. Whatever. She would play along, act like the counselor had actually made a difference and then get out of there as soon as she possibly could. Counselors just had an overinflated savior complex, right? So all she had to do was play into the notion that she actually needed saving in the first place, maybe have some well-placed tears, and then nod emphatically in answer to their prognosis like it would have any damn influence on her future choices.


    Selina took a deep breath to steady herself before opening the door and walking in, pausing when she saw the woman inside. Ok. Not who she expected. Selina had thought that in the middle of Montana, she’d have to put up with some old pale gentleman who’d spend too much time staring at her chest. “Hello, I’m Selina Taylor,” she started calmly. Selina figured she would wait and try to figure this woman out. Who knows? Though Selina still doubted it, there was a chance that this woman would be different from her other expectations as well.


Vesper Bae

[Vesper Bae]

New sessions, involuntary as a majority of them seemed to be, were always just that little bit refreshing for the memory manipulator who was certain she'd seen it all. Lived it all. Thousands of life spans existed in the world at her fingertips, so little could truly shock her. But files allocated by the school were always a jumping off point. She took what she could from them before preferring to hear it from the student's mouth;

Should they choose to speak.

Despite the desk that stood at the other end of the office, Vesper preferred nothing between herself and another person. Nothing to make it feel too clinical. Two seats at the other end of the room, one for herself and the other closest to the door for those students who often preferred a premature fallout.

The door opened. Surprise seemed to greet her newest student's eyes, and Vesper wasn't one to question it in the slightest. Everyone had their preconceived notions about what therapy would be like. They were ideals to keep to one's self unless properly aired within the safety of such four walls.

"Vesper." She greeted finally, well aware of the girl's name, yet she took it anyway. As it stood, it was the most polite greeting she'd received this year alone.

With a slight motion of her hand, she indicated towards the chair across from her, "Please."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina nodded to the woman and warily took a seat in the chair Vesper Bae had pointed to. Selina then glanced around the office, taking in everything and nothing while trying to figure out both what to do and what this woman might be like. “I’ve never really done this sort of thing before,” Selina offered hesitantly, unsure where to start. “So where do you want to start?” She figured it was the easiest way to get to the point. Small talk wasn’t really Selina’s cup of tea and sulking silently wasn’t going to get her anywhere except for having to put up with more sessions.


    Besides, the sooner this woman got what she wanted, the sooner Selina could leave… But honestly all of the venom she’d come in with had drained pretty quickly when she’d realized that she was meeting with a woman. Selina was still on guard, as she always was around new people, but she was also somewhat willing to see what this would turn into. She wouldn’t write off Vesper out of hand as Selina’s judgment was now temporarily reserved. She’d known a few people back in Chile who had hated therapy and few who had sworn by it, and her curiosity outweighed her animosity for the moment.

[Vesper Bae]

Hesitation mixed with an outward glance; Vesper watched the way those eyes took the scenery in without taking any information from it, like looking without really looking. Truthfully, she expected hesitation. It was always daunting to be placed in a position where a stranger was trying to sell the belief that total honesty would be respected and kept within unfamiliar walls and unfamiliar minds.

"I prefer to allow you to lead the session as you see fit," Vesper replied, warmth naturally settling into her tone of voice. Of course, students were brought to her for specific reasons, but such things would be those they'd likely reach in time. "Where would you like to begin?"

But it was always like an open question to rid the mind of basic thoughts completely, and so Vesper thought to interject the easiest suggestions they could come up with to jump off from. "You could tell me about yourself, or why you think you might be here." She offered, a slight raise to her eyebrows at either choice, "Anything, really."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina glanced up at Vesper and nodded, "Alright, I think I'm here because I killed a guy and punched a teacher. I also got into a few fights, but they're not too noteworthy really. I suppose the school either thinks I'm liable to do it again, or they think I'm psychologically unstable. Maybe both." Every single word was clinically distant and emotionless. Th only inflection being a slightly wry twist as she wasn't exactly in support of this endeavor.

    "How am I doing so far?" she asked. Selina wasn't one to beat around the bush. She just wondered what this could possibly do. She certainly wasn't going to open up to a stranger about her deepest fears or struggles. That just went against every grain in her body. Besides, she had to remember that this was school staff, and that whatever she told this woman would probably be accessible to anybody in the upper echelons of the school's hierarchy. Selina would have to b very careful with any and all information she gave out. All of what she'd just said was public record, so she felt no hesitation about merely repeating what was already known. 

[Vesper Bae]

The list offered was a series of things Vesper already knew. Having read the record in question, it must have been a given that she recalled all these things already. But hearing it from the individual it all pertained to, and so forwardly at that, was a different thing entirely.

"Just fine," Vesper replied, though she was unsure if the question really warranted a response at all. "I appreciate your willingness to speak about it." And she offered a small nod of her head to the fact. Most students preferred to keep their issues as tightly locked as they possibly could; at least she could see the detrimental behaviour that might flag in a school's system.

"Which of these instances would you prefer to focus on today?"

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina was slightly surprised at the woman’s grace and patience, but she took it in stride and merely nodded to the counselor in turn. She had been raised to appreciate good manners and to respect women who were older than she, so she found it easy to slip into the role of polite distance.


    Selina paused when asked which one she’d want to focus on. “Why don’t you decide on that? I have no preference,” she answered honestly. Selina was still unsure of the woman before her, but reciting facts was easy. Selina could tell this woman anything she wanted to hear about, as she had no trouble with giving out information that the school already knew.

[Vesper Bae]

Vesper was hardly one to push unless it seemed absolutely necessary. So when the question was turned on her, she paused for a brief moment to consider the best course of action. Part of it really depended on the depth of her honesty; the statement rang true enough that she could and should take it for what it was.

In the same vein, answering was a clear reach for power within itself. Level playing fields were always important in therapy. It was always important to adjust, though the situation always varied. So while she thought to answer, and considered the best place to start, she couldn't help the question that pierced the bridge between them instead.

"Which - or what - might have been the catalyst for your questionable behaviour?"

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina sighed, for some reason feeling slightly less confident than she had before, but she shrugged and answered with the same clinical distance she had before, “Well, I hit the teacher first, so I suppose that would be it. Though whether or not my behavior was in fact questionable rather depends on your point of view,” she offered. “What do you want to know?” she asked. “Anything in specific I should focus on?” She really had no idea what to do here, so she was willing to follow Vesper’s lead.


    Regardless of what the woman did, Selina would still see her as being in power at this point. After all, the woman held authority within the school that Selina would never have in her life time. She didn’t want to either as she planned on leaving as soon as she possibly could.

[Vesper Bae]

Again, Vesper nodded. And it would be the only initial response she'd give to what was first said to her. She took her time in the silence provided; it was always important to note how a student took a series of words given to them. Questionable behaviour mightn't have been the phrasing most would choose, but it was important to see where that landed with the person in question. Of course, someone so young was likely bound to take it negatively. No offense intended, nor taken.

"No preference from me." Vesper finally admitted.

After all, it was the first instance that she had offered to the situation. Starting in chronological order wasn't always the preference - perhaps the most exalted of encounters was a better place - but it had been her choice. Her decision to lead the session to its first stopping point. So she unfurled a hand, indicating towards Selina as she spoke again; "Tell me what happened."

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina paused as she thought about the question. “Well let’s see… according to him, I hit on him and then I got offended when he oh-so-kindly pointed out that such a thing would be inappropriate and that he wasn’t interested. I then made up a fantastic story about him sexually assaulting me in order to gain attention and to be able to ‘play the victim’, I do believe were his chosen words. Because, naturally all teenage girls crave the type of attention that would come from outing the school’s star teacher as a pedophile, but hey, who am I to disagree with the wise and noble soul who so graciously argued that I shouldn’t be expelled. He defended the poor, ignorant, hysterical, and obviously troubled girl that I was and offered the kindly compromise of merely suspending me and then having me put on probation.”


    “He really was such a kind and gentle man, it’s hard to believe I would ever attempt to drag him through the mud like that. I promise I’ve learned my lesson,” Selina couldn’t help adding with a sarcastic drawl. “Of course, the principle happened to be that teacher’s best friend and since his school also couldn’t afford to lose any more funding or potential students by the type of negative attention that a pedophile amongst the staff would bring, he believed every word that came from Mr. Reyes’ lips.” Naming him brought on a slight shudder of disgust and hatred, but she stifled her reaction and went on, “Then, out of his kindly concern for the other students and staff members, he made sure to warn everyone he could of my violently promiscuous and hysterical ways so that they would be ‘prepared’ should I fly off the handle again.”


    Selina really hadn’t meant to say near as much as she had, but speaking about it to somebody who already knew was slightly… cathartic. She hadn’t spoken a word of this incident to anybody except for her mother and Maria since it had happened and she’d not talked with them much in an effort to prevent them from worrying about whether or not she was still affected. Selina honestly hadn’t expected this much anger and bitterness to be so pent up, but nonetheless, here she was. Her defenses were still up high though, as she hadn’t been believed back then, and she honestly didn’t expect to be believed now… but still speaking of something that had become so much of a burden was a relief nonetheless.

[Vesper Bae]

Vesper listened to the lengthy explanation given to her. What struck her the most was the entire way it started. Choice words; according to him. She supposed the question she herself had posed was to be taken in whatever way Selina wanted to, so she would hardly fault her for the interpretation presented. It spoke volumes over what she might have thought it initially would.

"I'm hearing your answer." Vesper started, nodding her head once. At least then, she could acknowledge the fabrication as it was. At least she was talking. It was a lot more than she thought to get from the first session. Deterring the subject was no longer an option, but nor was completely accepting the obvious case set before her.

"So tell me what happened." She reiterated, then. It was the clearest way she could ask for the genuine truth of it.

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina let out a harsh laugh, “According to me, he sexually assaulted me and lied to cover his sorry ass,” she replied simply and easily. “Whether or not that’s what really happened is up to you isn’t it?” she asked with a smirk. Selina had already told Vesper everything the woman needed to know, in her opinion.


    This woman who knew nothing of the original situation, who could never know what truly happened except for on basis of word alone, would be the one deciding whether or not Selina was truthful or a liar. It was almost funny really. Selina didn’t honestly care either way at this point. She would be the one dealing with the consequences, but she couldn’t force herself to care anymore.

[Vesper Bae]

The first response Vesper gave to the question was to shake her head. Where she stood in such a situation was completely irrelevant.

"On the contrary, I'd say it's completely up to you," Vesper replied, "Provided there's a genuine strain to the information you're giving." And it was easy, of course, to paint a teenager as a liar and continue on with things as they were. To push the pressure towards her instead of dealing with that situation at hand. The idea of adult figures with a looming sense of power was clear enough in her past, let alone the way she spoke now.

"Let me tell you what I can do regarding this situation," She started, though she raised her eyebrows to the girl, searching for some kind of indicator as to whether or not Selina would allow her the floor in this meeting. She had her own means to understand something a student had been through, and that always required an explanation and a form of permission.

[Selina Taylor]

    Selina shrugged. It was a matter of perspective she supposed. “How genuine I am or am not is still decided by you though, right?” Selina asked simply. Bah, what did it matter whether or not the woman agreed with her. “Sorry, never mind,” Selina offered. She wasn’t here to argue, just to fulfill what the school required from her.

    Selina studied the woman in front of her in confusion, “What are you talking about?” she asked wondering how the woman could do anything about something that had happened years ago. Or was she offering something regarding Selina’s current situation with the school? Selina had no idea what to expect, but she was open to listening.