Ah, damn, why the hell did you do that?! William spat as he jumped to his feet, a chill from the cold bottle of water still going down his spine along a few droplets of water.
You were being rude. Warrior said, offering the bottle to the boy properly now, and watching him grab it before gulping it down within seconds.
You know, he really does have pink hair. It is not an insult if it's real. he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he focused at Wong explaining why was his hair pink anyway.
Well, nothing you can do there then, I guess. he said, his eyes darting towards Warrior to see if the creature had, by any chance, thought about buying two bottles of water. He did.
So, that's how your power is called? The Vermillion Summer? he asked, as he drank the other bottle of water down more slowly. And, I guess I'm fine. he said, turning around to glare at Warrior for a bit, before turning back towards Wong and opening his mouth to say something more, only for his expression to darken so quickly that it could rival a gathering storm. Shit. he cursed as he saw one of the boys that had attacked him coming back, followed by an unknown faculty member.
At William's curse, Wong Ha Jung looked in the direction of whatever it was that had upset him. The man squinted at the figures that he saw there but couldn't make them out. Are they coming here? he wondered. Or are they just walking in this direction?
Probably the former, so he got up from where he was sitting, brushing off his clothes as he did so. In hindsight, it had probably been improper of him to be sitting on the ground with a suit anyways. Not that he minded too much. Even though he had been trying to maintain some kind of professionalism ever since he came to the island, Wong Ha Jung had to admit that over time, he had slipped up enough times that he had simply decided not to take himself so seriously. In some aspects anyways. Most aspects. Ah.
"Now who is this?" the counselor asked softly, almost to himself. He hoped for but was not particularly expecting an answer from William. Even as the two people came closer, Wong Ha Jung still didn't recognize either of them. One of them looked like a staff member, though. The other was definitely a student, although one who looked like he had been in a tussle recently. Which probably meant that he was one of the dozen or so who had been attacking William earlier.
Biting his lip, the counselor moved a little in front of the boy and his spirits, feeling oddly protective. It was sort of impossible not to feel that way, even though he still needed to get around to asking what had happened. Which might be about now, the man supposed. Honestly, it had slipped his mind.
"Hello," Wong Ha Jung said to the two people warily. Addressing the assumed staff member, he asked, "Is there anything I can help you with?" He couldn't decide which person he was supposed to watch more but just in case this was going to deteriorate into some kind of mess, he was going to start off by putting himself between the two groups present.
An idiot number ten. William answered Wong's question about who the persons coming there way were, his whole body filled with tension once again, as he tried to determine whether it would be better to stay or run. The fact that Spirit was still asleep decided that for him, though, as he gritted his teeth, glaring at the staff member that was, in turn, staring passively at him. And the idiot's shepherd. he spat out, clenching his hand into a fist, as the staff members eyes finally moved towards Wong.
Counsellor Wong I presume? the man said, taking in Wong's appearance, his eyes lingering at Wong's hair for the most part. There has been a report of a disturbance. A fight, started by William Read. Again. the man spoke slowly, with no emotions in his voice, and without even giving a second glance to the boy he was accusing of starting a fight.
Like hell! William exploded immediately, his anger directed towards the staff member, before it suddenly died away. There was no way he was going to believe him anyway, so why waist his voice on the man? You son of the bitch... he growled, taking a step towards the student that has reported him, his body already ready to jump when the creature behind him suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders. Not now. it said, and while William knew, rationally, that hitting the vermin like student now wouldn't help his case at all, he couldn't help the overwhelming wish to do so. Let the man speak. the creature said, reminding him that there was someone there that might just defend him.
Maybe before, Wong Ha Jung would have been put off by the coldness in the other man's voice but frankly, Itou was far more intimidating. And seeing as he had listened through a good dozen rants in icy monotone by that point, it was probably safe to say that the counselor had simply gotten used to it. He still didn't hold up as well against active aggression but it was a start, at least.
"Oh, yes, that's me," the counselor said. Unintentionally, a tone of confusion had slipped into his voice, which wasn't a very accurate description of how he felt at all. It would have been more correct to say that he was resigned but still slightly annoyed by the situation. "And you are...?"
At the accusation, he blinked a few times and smiled since what he really wanted to do was frown. Frowning just didn't suit his nature. "I see. Fights are fairly serious issues, of course." And at a place like Starlight with all of those powers mixed in, ah. Wong Ha Jung couldn't help but think all the way back to the staff meeting from his first month on the job. They're right. It really is odd that there haven't been more serious incidents occurring.
The counselor continued, "However, it does seem like it would be rather rash of us to be making assumptions right now. Is his word the only one that you have?" He indicated to the student by the other man's side. "If you have anything to say about what happened, I think that I would like to hear it as well."
To be honest, what Wong Ha Jung really wanted to do was start listing all the reasons why he didn't think William was at fault. But those were still working off of assumptions and he couldn't be certain. If he was going to make an argument in the boy's favor, he was going to make certain that he had good, solid evidence to back it up. And if he couldn't do that, then he was going to at least do his best to poke holes in the provided accusation. And there would be holes, he was sure of it.
Mr. Dickenson. the man answered in a same, monotone voice, his face twitching slightly in annoyance at William's rash behaviour. I don't believe we have met. he added, turning his head towards Wong again, the very sound of his voice setting William's teeth on edge. He bit onto his tongue this time, however, as he had already decided to let the counsellor talk in his name, though, at the moment, he couldn't really guess what had possessed him to do that.
I teach Advanced Calculus in college part of the school. he added, casting a glance at the still high school student across him, smirking, and William could just see in his eyes the thought of Something he will never reach. He could feel blood sleeping through his fingers as his nails bit into the skin of his palms even deeper. As if I haven't bleed enough today. he thought, wiping the blood on the surface of his jeans and missing the slightest twitch at the too-proud-of-teaching-a-lame-class teacher's face.
I am, however, familiar with the case of William Reed he said his name as if he was a disease and suddenly, even Warrior was on edge. A vampire he might be, but a sword through the heart will certainly kill anybody. ...and was present in the Office when the victims came to make a complaint. he continued, completely unaware of the very strong killer intent suddenly directed at him, his eyes darting briefly towards the small, mouse like student at his side.
There were three of them, all claiming the same thing, which is that they have, once again, been attacked by the one William Reed this time, it was William's hand that stopped Warrior from reaching for his sword, though the boy made sure to greet his teeth at the Idiot Number Ten in annoyance which certainly made the said idiot twitch. ...which I think makes a sufficient case. The student already has a great number of fights in his files, so this one is not all that surprising. the stuck up man finished, a small scoff managing to escape his perfectly tin lips as to show his utter annoyance.
Bastard. William spat, unable to hold it in any longer, though it was unclear whether he had meant the teacher or the coward that dared hide behind the wall of Staff after he had lost in a fight in which he had also had an incredibly unfair advantage over William himself. The vampires lips twitched once more in annoyance, as he crossed his hand behind his back.
I shall be taking him to Admissions Office, again. I am sure they already know the drill for him. After all, this wouldn't be the first time he was there.
There was something just plain creepy about Mr. Dickenson. Wong Ha Jung was pretty sure that it wasn't the voice or the bearing. All of that -and God forgive him for thinking so- fit the general description of Itou after all. Maybe it was because of the fact that the calculus teacher was quite obviously a vampire.
"Now that's hardly proof," the counselor said carefully in response to the other man's explanation. "That's still only their word against his. It also doesn't seem to make much sense."
He looked at the accusing student then, still smiling and feeling remarkably calm. Except for the fact that if he stopped to think about it for a bit, he was actually really starting to become quite angry. It was always hard to recognize it in himself. Plenty of people became loud when they were angry. Some people became quiet. Wong Ha Jung simply became neutral without losing too much of his usual softness.
"I'm certainly glad to see that everybody on your side of it came out of it well enough," the Chinese man said. "Although, it's a little surprising that only three of you decided to report the incident. What happened to the other seven of you? I can only assume from Mr. Dickenson's lack of mention of them, that they all brushed the incident off. Since the Admissions Office is on the way to the infirmary, I suppose that they didn't have any particular injuries to tend."
The counselor stared at that boy before continuing, "I don't believe that anybody would willingly start a fight that is so clearly not in their favor. Ten against one is rather extreme, don't you think? And please," he said, his tone actually softening rather than hardening, "don't tell me that William intended to fight you with his spirits. I caught part of your fight, after all. They didn't do anything until the very end of it."
He shook his head. "Why go all the way to the Admissions Office anyways?" he asked. "Half of you ran right by me. It's impossible that you didn't see me, pink hair and all." Then, he was smiling a little more genuinely, just for a moment. "And in any case, I might have an issue with my eyes but my hearing is perfectly fine." Meaning that he remembered somebody shouting in a panic that a staff member had appeared.
"You have to understand," Wong Ha Jung told Mr. Dickenson, "their actions make them seem very guilty. You can't possibly overlook that."
Their word against his, yes, and a heavy record to support their claim. the vampire said, his voice still as cold as ice and his face just as impassive, though one of his perfectly formed black eyebrows did show a slight signs of twitching while Wong continued to speak, as if it, perhaps, couldn't believe that the counsellor was defending a known problem child. It didn't however do anything but that until the man mentioned that there have been seven more alleged victims, when it suddenly shot straight for the also perfectly formed hair line above the vampire's high brow.
There has been no mention of anybody but the four of them being present. he said, turning his head towards the student at his side without actually moving any part of his body but his neck, and William could almost hear the bones in his neck crack. Just as nobody had said anything about a staff member being present as the fight ended, making it seem instead that they have made it out of there alive.
Like hell! William spate again, unable to hold back his anger any more. They have attacked me and the worst that I have done was break somebody's nose! Warrior barely had to draw his sword before they ran away as well. he added as he saw the other boy carefully eye the weapons on his Summon's back.
You're right, Mr Wong. the vampire said, his ice blue eyes still pinning the student that have come to him with an obviously false complain down as he spoke to Wong. If what you say is true, and I am more inclined to believe a word of a staff member than a child of barely seventeen years of age, than the three that have come to me with their accusations are obviously guilty of lying. he finished his speech to Wong, taking suddenly a step forward so he would lean over the now trembling mouse like child by his side. He still completely ignored William though, offering no apology for accusing him of something he hadn't done. Well? the vampire asked the boy, his mouth suddenly dry as he looked into those cold, ice blue eyes. What do you have to say for yourself? he asked, and the boy broke down in tears.
I...we...um...please... he trembled, the water from his eyes falling down his cheeks in trails.
They are just bitter that they lost. William said, scoffing, in a dry voice, looking away from a trembling coward as if he couldn't even bare to look at him. Thought they could at least get me in trouble with the Office. he added, mumbling as he thought that hadn't in been for Wong, they would have succeeded too. They are just idiots, all ten of them.
I'm sorry. This became a lecture. I am so sorry. But I feel like Wong's been worrying long enough about this stuff. <s>He's kind of pissed towards the end, actually. It's just that he consciously forces himself to act the opposite.</s> Then again, hey, look. He's actually acting like a counselor for once. Eh, it's not like it's his job or anything, nope.
Wong Ha Jung
"It really would be best if we just got this out of the way now," Wong Ha Jung said to the other boy, not unsympathetically. "It'll only be worse for you if we have to involve any more of the staff." The sight of tears was always able to move him, although the counselor didn't think that could just let this particular matter slide. But with Mr. Dickenson there, he doubted that anybody would be walking away from this situation without incident. And in any case, he couldn't believe that students could be so... dense. Even though he knew full well that sometimes his expectations were too high, it still was an unpleasant surprise. And try as he might, he just couldn't help the lecture that came out next.
"What were you thinking? Even if you've had issues with people in the past, that doesn't give you right to try and physically even the score." The counselor pursed his lips together for a moment, the closest he would get to frowning. "This academy might function the same as a normal school on the outside but you can't let yourself forget that many people here are only just beginning to master a variety of dangerous abilities. On Manta Carlos, a school fight could easily kill you. It doesn't matter if somebody intended for that or not. You're still only children, even if you think you're not. Accidents are going to happen." Like with Leticia. "That's why we're here."
He crossed his arms lightly, turning a little so his back wasn't totally to William anymore. "Somebody could have been seriously injured today," Wong Ha Jung said softly. "A lot of people, actually, even though I don't think anybody intended for it to get that far. Just because we've been blessed to have people with healing magic on the staff, that's not an invitation to go ahead and do even more reckless things. It's true that healing magic here acts as a sort of safety net but there's still only so much that people can do." He shook his head.
"You have to understand," the counselor said urgently, speaking to everybody in general. "The doctors are not here to patch you up after every little incident that happens. They're here so that when you make a mistake, you can have another chance that maybe you wouldn't have gotten outside." He added, "And I mean this on both ends of the spectrum. Not every student in the Academy has been fortunate enough to escape having a kill count. Maybe you and your friends are even in that number. My point is, though, do you really want to be one of the ones who actually add to that count while you're here, trying to learn how to avoid doing just that?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Dickenson, this entire thing is more or less my responsibility," Wong Ha Jung said to the teacher, somewhat distressed, somewhat resigned. Mostly determined to figure out why students at the school kept doing these things. "It's unfair to drag you into this and you're probably busy enough with your own work. I think I can handle it from here."
With a quiet sigh, the Chinese man took a few steps towards the student who had brought the calculus teacher out there. "Tell me your name, please," he said gently. "It doesn't matter if you lie to me, I'll find you eventually, if it's the last thing I do in this life." The counselor paused for a moment, wondering if that was too strong. It only took him a second to decided that no, if anything, it was too weak. It was also not very nice, which bothered him. But it didn't bother him as much as what had occurred that day." Tell your friends what's happened here. And if you don't remember, that's fine. I'm perfectly capable of repeating myself a dozen times more."
Wong Ha Jung continued on, serenely, without letting the student get a single word of protest in. "My office is by right around the corner from the infirmary. If you don't know where it is, ask the doctors and they'll tell you. I'll see you tomorrow at nine a.m. I'm sorry if you have anything else then but that'll just have to wait."
He looked straight at the boy for a moment, smiling faintly. "Please do show up on time. If you don't, I'll simply talk to some of the people I know in Admissions and look for your files myself. And then I'll probably have a chat with your parents, your guardians, your teachers -really, every authority figure you've ever had since setting foot on this island. While it's true that I can't just go dragging people in for psychotherapy, I can drag you in for breaking school policy. Unless you'd rather go all the up to the Headmistress. I can't say for sure how that would work out for you."
"Oh, yes, and make sure the others know that, too. I'll be meeting with them all eventually, whether or not you tell me who they are. I take matters like this very seriously," Wong Ha Jung said earnestly with an almost cheerful hum. It was a pretty good indication that as soon as he got somewhere away from people, he was going to go catatonic from having said so much. And while the counselor wasn't one to drink too often, he might go and binge on something sweet eventually. "So, is there anything else that I need to cover?"
