Bow And Toe The Line

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Oh great, the counselor. No need to say that Akeem thought he had absolutely no reason to see one. It was not like he needed any pointer as to where he wanted his life to go. He had a plan for his future, he was actually working on it right now. He would have also away from Bellefonte. But it was his punishment for not being careful enough. It was how Akeem saw it at least. Bellefonte Academy was, in his mind, more a high school than a college. The fact they offered both was, in his opinion, just a way to keep the students who still needed training without making them be too behind in studies. He didn’t think he needed more training so he shouldn’t be here. But he was.

And now he was supposed to talk to some counselor. Because, apparently, it was wrong to think you could use your power. Of course, had his power was the ability to make flowers last longer or change his voice at will and his career of choice was florist or being a voice actor, they never would have cared. Sadly, Akeem wanted to be a lawyer and he could manipulate people into believing everything he said. Why the school felt a need to add a moral compass to them all, he didn't get. He was not going to try and let psycho killers run away free. He knew that would be too much.

“We’re not going to talk of my parents again, are we?” Akeem asked as he entered the office. It was another thing he didn’t get. Why they thought it was so important to know his relationship with his parents or why he seemed to like his father more than his mother.

TAG: Beth Young

[Beth Young]

Lifting her gaze as she heard the door open, Beth's green eyes focused on the boy, Akeem Ten-Amen. She offered the boy a smile and issued a chuckle at his words. Leaning back in her chair, the brunette folded her hands in her lap. "Not if you don't want us to." She wasn't one who'd force any kinds of subject. If all the boy wanted to talk about today was the mechanics behind running a shower, she'd oblige. Now, she'd much rather talk about things that would actually help the boy, but again: She wasn't going to force anything.

"How are you doing today?" She knew all about the boy and his power and although she did agree that the boy needed to learn when to use his power - and when not to, she didn't think he was very willing considering how this session was forced. It was obvious to see that this was the last place he wanted to be. Not everyone was as easy to talk to or turn around as some. She supposed it was a good thing, as it made her job a little more challenging. And it was a bad thing because at the end of the day, she was here to help.

She wanted to help the boy - she wanted to help all of them. Sadly, there would always be those who would fall through the cracks. Sadly, there was always those who needed help that either didn't get it or refused to.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

People seemed to like talking of his parents, for some obscure reason. Maybe because he once didn’t watch out enough and showed that he had very little love for his mother. Not that he hated the woman. He liked her and she was part of the family. He was just unable to love her. Something about her... just made him disgusted at times to have her as a mother. Ever since, people seemed to love to talk of his parents with him. Or they wanted to show him why using his power can have consequences. No need to say that Akeem was interested in neither of these topics.

If he agreed to come despite it not being something he would have done on his own, it was mostly to show them he could play by their rules. If he did, then maybe they’ll cut him some slack and he’ll finally be able to do whatever he wanted, the way he wanted it. But first, he had to get them off his back.

He raised an eyebrow when she said they wouldn’t talk of his parents if he didn't want to. If he didn’t want to? “I had in mind you were the one deciding what we’d talk about,” he replied as he walked in. Wasn’t she supposed to show she was in charge? The fact he got to pick the topic caught him by surprise.

He sat down when she asked how he felt. He answered with a shrug. “Fine, I guess. What are we supposed to talk of here? My grades, how I’m doing? It’s all fine. It’s not like I haven’t been here before.” What else could they talk about? Akeem didn’t want to share too much until he knew he could make an ally of her. Not someone to ‘help’ him in the way she probably believed she could. All he wanted was for her to say he can go study in a prestigious law school without anyone to worry. Too much to ask in one session?

[Beth Young]

"No," she replied gently with a faint shrug. "I'm not." She looked at him and smiled. "I'm not going to force you to do or say something you don't want to, Mr. Ten-Amen. But if you do want to talk, I'm all ears." No, she wasn't about to force him. She simply wanted him to know that her door was always open if there was anything he ever wanted. She knew a lot of about the boy. Or rather, a lot about what was said in his file. She didn't know him personally. As much as she would have preferred him to open up, she knew it wasn't always that simple.

Beth fell quiet as the boy started talking again. For a moment, she simply stared at him with a soft smile splayed upon her lips which reached to her green eyes. Then, then she took a deep breath. "We're here to talk about whatever you want to talk about. If you'd prefer, we could talk about the weather, or we could sit here in silence." Of course, that wasn't what she'd prefer, but she was all for giving people time to feel comfortable with her.

Although this might have been a forced session, she wasn't about to force the boy to talk. That wasn't quite her style. She was good at her job, she knew that, but being good at your job meant nothing if you couldn't gain the children's trust. It meant nothing if they didn't feel as if they could talk if they wanted - and not because they were forced.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem blinked a few times, the gears in his brain working at high speed as he tried to understand the tactic being played here. He could not. “And that actually worked before? I mean, those who wanted to talk to you in the first place might be thrilled they can say what they wanted to say but the others...” because the others who didn’t want to talk, certainly they’d just want to be on their way. Akeem wanted to go. But he remembered he was here to get the school off his back and leaving after just seeing the counselor was not exactly how he’ll get that.

He had a smirk as she answered him. “Weather and silence’s all fine but then you have to come back for another visit to address the real matter no?” How many fell for it only to find out it was over for today and it would be a good thing to come back some other day. Akeem would avoid that if he could. Oh, he didn’t expect one session with Mrs. Young would be enough but he was not going to extend it more than what was necessary.

Sinking in the seat, Akeem offered her a smile. “I’d rather we cut to the chase. There’s no reason to waste both our time,” he said, opening his arms. He was comfortable. She caught him off guard at first with the whole ‘let’s talk what you want’ speech but he was not going to let her get the upper hand that easily. He was the one in control. “I’m sure there’s something you want us to talk about more than weather, so go ahead.”

[Beth Young]

Shrugging, Beth's smile never faltered. "They talk when they're ready," she simply said. Some took longer than others, while someone never did. Most of the time though, they did eventually. Now, she wasn't arrogant enough to think that everyone would as long as she gave them time, but nor did she believe in forcing anything. A roguish smile formed on her lips then as she leaned back in her chair.

"They'll come back as many times as its needed, but how long varies entirely on how long it takes them to want to talk," she replied. She understood his suspicion, and in a way, she didn't blame him for it. Clearly, he expected her to have ulterior motives and she didn't at all blame him, because she'd seen some of the therapists around the world. They weren't all as patient.

Curiously, her head tilted. An almost amused smile formed on her lips at the forward way the boy carried himself. "If that's what you want," she replied casually. His next part had her chuckling softly. Again, she repeated herself. "What do you want us to talk about?" she countered, her green eyes watching him.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem shrugged. The others could decide to talk when they were ready but he saw this whole thing as a waste of time and he did not intend to waste too much of his time. He studied Beth. What did she get out of this, really? She couldn’t say she did it for the money, she’d make a lot more working on her own or in a private clinic. So what? Helping others? He’d never listen for hours on end to some whiny kids just to help them. She must find some satisfaction in that.

“Well, I’m ready to talk, just not sure what’s worth talking about,” he let out. What might she want him to talk about? Swear that what he did was wrong, that he’ll never do it again? He could but he doubted she would believe him. She’d be right too. He could use his power to convince her but that would not really help him out either. His best chance was to have her somehow believe he wouldn’t do anything bad.

Manipulating her would be easier if he understood the game she played. Their green eyes stared at each other. She was still asking him what he wanted to talk about. It was unnerving. Couldn’t she just tell him what she wanted out of this? “How am I supposed to know what a social worker likes to talk about? I could promise you I won’t use my power any way I want it but I think we both know it’s not likely to happen. At least I'm not hurting anyone.”

[Beth Young]

Beth pursed her lips slightly and tilted her head to the side. "If you're ready to talk, surely, there must be something on your mind. If you don't know what to say or what to talk about, how can you then be ready?" she asked. After all, that sounded rather contradictory, did it not? Maybe the boy was simply hiding behind numerous walls and really, he knew what he wanted to say, he just didn't know how to.

"It's not about what I want to talk about, Akeem," she said softly. "It's about what you like talking about, or rather, want to talk about." She shrugged lightly at that, her brows furrowing at the rest of the things he said. "Isn't forcing people to do things they normally wouldn't hurting them?" she asked. "Correct me if I'm mistaken, Akeem, but don't your power essentially manipulate others? It might not be out of character for them to do whatever it is that your power makes them do, but if they wouldn't normally make such actions, then you're essentially forcing their hand, and in turn, hurting them."

She stared at the boy then, curious to see what he'd reply with. She had a feeling he'd simply dismiss it. He seemed like the type who felt completely and utterly entitled to his own beliefs. Sadly, Beth had met quite a few people like that.

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

That woman would give him a headache. Normally, speaking of what he wanted was not a problem. He had such an ego sometimes. But he for once was ready to talk of what someone else wanted to talk about... only to hear he was the one in control of the conversation. At this rate, they wouldn’t have talked of anything when she’ll say it was all for the day. He was not even sure how long they had. One hour, thirty minutes? Less, more?

“And what if what I want to talk about is why you want me so much to decide what we should talk about? “ He already told her why he was here, what he thought of those meetings. And what he didn’t tell, she could easily guess, he was certain of this. He was here because the school thought he needed to. And since he didn't want the school to think of him, it was best to do what they wanted so long as it was not too much. Talking didn't seem like too much.

Of course, she had to go with the whole ‘manipulating is hurting’ speech. “You sound like my mother. Always saying it was a bad thing. That never stopped her from hypnotizing into doing anything she wanted us to do though,” he let out, slightly frustrated to have to hear this. He wanted to argue that he only made them more open to suggestion but she already said that his power could not really force someone. And it couldn’t. He couldn’t make someone slap a person just because he asked them to. He merely pushed them to do something they might have wanted to do but not always dared to. “I’m not making people fight each other, do I? I’m not forcing any girl in my bed and I don’t just use my power to get good grades, I work my ass off too. What’s the point of having a power if you don’t use it?” Akeem retorted. If his power allowed him to get what he wanted, and he liked getting what he wanted, why should he feel bad about it? It was like telling a girl she should be ashamed that her beauty opened more doors to her than an uglier one had. He was not ashamed of his ability and he thought it was his right to use it. He wouldn’t be one of those who hid in the dark and did everything to pretend like they had no power.

[Beth Young]

Sighing, Beth looked at the boy, her head shaking faintly. "Deflecting isn't going to get you very far, Akeem," she spoke. Despite her strict words, her face remained gentle and soft. She felt slightly bad that it seemed as if the boy didn't trust her, but she suspected that was to be expected. She couldn't expect everyone to open up and wrap out about every tiny detail about their lives. It rarely was that easy, and in the end, she was okay with it.

"Do you wish to be like your mother then?" she asked curiously. She had a feeling the boy didn't care much one way or another, but she had to admit that it was curious that he'd bring his mother out. Maybe it was another way for him to deflect the attention shone upon him. He continued then and Beth stared at him, silent for a moment as a thoughtful expression formed on her face. "It doesn't matter why you're using your ability, or what for; you're still forcing someone's hand. You're taking away people's choice - a choice they have a right to have, regardless of how stupid they might seem." She held up her hand, as if to stop any protests from the boy regarding the subject.

"I can't force you to stop using your power, and I'm sure that no amount of telling you how wrong it is is going to sway your opinion, but I want you to consider the effects it's causing beyond the forethought of thinking that at that moment, using it is going to help you. What happens after? Then what?" she asked, head tilting. "Do you really want to go through life knowing that the only way you got through school or the only way a certain person reacted to you in that way is because you used your power? I'm not saying that's what you're using it for, mind you, but do you really want to be that guy?"

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

Akeem didn’t think he was deflecting anything but he could understand how she might believe differently. He wouldn’t be here if they didn't think he needed it. He didn't understand what they expected to get out of this though. That he would no longer use his power. Because, the way he saw it, it was not even a question of him abusing his power, it was just the fact he would use his power. They didn’t want him to. Because it forced people. “I don’t know, I want to be a lawyer, something tells me deflecting is something I should learn to do if I want to win,” he replied with a shrug. But he was not dumb enough to think she meant it quite that way. And he was not going to let her explain him what her point was. “I get what you want here, I just don’t see a point. There’s really nothing much to say. I don’t like not getting what I want. Though, seriously, who does?”

His expression darkened when she said he might be turning like his mother. He would never be like that. It was not like Akeem hated her. But he couldn’t quite love her either. The moment he tried, something in him was just disgusted at something she did or said or just the way she looked and he had to try all over again. He was certain that, had she been someone else’s mom, he probably would have gotten along with her better than he did now. Not like he could ever prove that wrong or right though, as she couldn’t become someone else’s mother. She would always be his.

He was more pissed off now as she tried to point out he still forced people’s hand in the end. “Everyone’s doing that! And they don’t need a power to do it. Everyone’s pushing you the way they want you to go. I’m just better at it,” he let out. He was not to the point of losing his temper but he realised he tone rose as he talked and he forced himself to calm down. He never could understand people’s point of view when they said things like that. He could try and think, like she said, reflect on the effects of what he was doing and what might happen afterwards. But the truth was that he’d just shrug it off, unable to really see how terrible it could be. His jaw clenched, anger coming over again though as she implied people come to him only because of his power, or his grades were this good only because he incited a teacher to give him a better one. “I told you I work hard. I’ve worked for those grades, I’m not a slacker.” As for people... well, he really preferred not to think about that.

[Beth Young]

"Not liking not to get what you want is vastly different from forcing it," she sighed. She wondered briefly if the boy was used to getting what he wanted, or had to work really hard to get it in the past. Maybe that was why he chose the easy way now? "Did you have to work hard to get the things you wanted when you were younger?" she asked curiously, her head tilting. Her green eyes never left the boy and she studied his face carefully, trying to catch any change against his features.

She did however notice the darkened eyes at the mention of his mother. So, apparently, that wasn't he thing he was overly fond of, being compared to his mother. She noted it and put it at the back of her mind - just in case she'd ever have to use it. "What's your relationship with your mother?"

"Better because you cheat?" she asked, her head tilting again as she pursed her lips. She didn't flinch or back down at his obvious distressed mood. And just in case, Beth activated her own power, carefully placing a block on the boy's ability - in case he'd try to get himself out of this by using his power. She had a slight inkling that she was getting close to something - anything. "So, why do you have to use your power?"

[Akeem Ten-Amen]

“I disagree. When you want something, you do everything to get it. I’m not forcing people nearly as much as you seem to believe. It’s not because I can make people do my bidding whenever I want that I do it all the time,” he argued with a tone that finally calmed down. He didn’t want to lose any more control of himself with her. She just proved she might me harder to play than first expected.

Another shrug at her question, and a frown to show how pointless he found the question. “Sure. My dad wanted to make us work for what we wanted, didn’t want to just give us everything just because he could. Said we’d appreciate it even more after.” It was only after he answered, or actually as he answered her that he started to understand why she asked him that in particular. “You think I don’t know what it’s like to work to get what you want? Unless you think I’ve grown tired of working hard and didn’t appreciate it as much. That’s not the case.” He was almost amused as he said that. To him, figuring her out meant he was getting the upper hand.

Of course, she had to ask about his mother. It seemed to be something social workers loved, learning the relationship of kids with their parents. Next, she’ll try to explain why the fact he was like this was because he loved his mother too much. Or not enough. “She’s my mom, what more is there to say?” In other words, she better not go there. Just in case the frown he had was not explicit enough.

“If your power allowed you to calm people with a single touch, would you call it cheating that you used it whenever a kid came to you in tears? Do you think that makes you less good at your work because you did it instead of talking them into calming down? No, that’s just an extra talent you can use.” When you don’t want to answer, there was nothing better than asking a question in return. She refused to get him off the hook that easily though. Another very thoughtful and probably hard to answer question followed. He didn't think much about it though before answering. “Why not?”